Slow cuts revisited

[jTr]

As concluded in original thread, seemed as though reinstall of SB3 took care of USB problems and all other issues, but this one is back:

Slow cuts.
First pass in pocketing or cutout now. Straight line cuts from 24-30" length dropping to about 1/4" per second cut speed. Last sheet was on table over 45 minutes for 8 cabinet sides.

Here are absolutes I can define from a closer study and noting of code lines:

ONLY happens on first cut of a new toolpath.
ALWAYS snaps back to full travel on next line of code and for remainder of cut.
NEVER slows over same section again.
CLIMB cut will be slow for first side of rectangle in clockwise direction
CONVENTIONAL cut will be slow for first side of rectangle in counterclockwise direction.

Does NOT happen on every cutout on toolpath, except this last sheet, which happened on all 8 pieces for final cutout pass (they were identical size cutouts).

Just verified again in partworks - no open vectors and no duplicate vectors in drawing.

Anyone have a clue at all?

jeff

[michael_schwartz]

Did you load the correct settings for your machine?

[jTr]

Michael,
Ran setup routine, which had retained my machine's original setup data.
Verified ramping values, which reflected my initial adjustments as well.

jeff

[garyc]

Jeff...
Can you save a copy of your current settings and install the OEM settings to see if the problem persists?

I can remember something from the past where certain speed and ramp setting combinations caused initial vectors to run at ramp speeds.

[jTr]

Gary-
looks like I did this at wrong time.
While cutting current sheet, I stopped when it hit a slow spot. Quit program entirely, then reset VR values to originals.
Re-loaded file, selected line to re-start/run file.
Machine proceeded to ramp into cut 18 inches prior to plunge point, resulting in large gouges across ajacent pieces.

After all this, none of it corrected the slow initial vector issue.

What next?

[jTr]

In an effort to pin this down, I'm re-running file with known instances of slow down, having reset ramp SPEED settings back to factory spec. Each run produces different results.
Appears machine will do a long slow ramp to start point when prompted to "run from here" vs "continue" cutting due to unexpected termination.

1st dry run: Grinding/buzzing sound as motors drive to start of cut, and immediately into slow motion.
2nd dry run: Grinding/buzzing sound as motors drive to start of cut, and this time proceeding at full speed....

By the way - cannot warm up spindle anymore, as USB PROBLEM has decided to rear it's head again.

Didn't the last poor guy with this set of issues cure it with an installation of the new alpha control software?

Just seems the further I go, the more lost my bot and I become...

Time to tell me where the big red reset button is on this thing.

[garyc]

Jeff....
To avoid an accidental erroneous setting, please save your current settings [U][S], (if you wish) and install the default settings (not just the VR) for your machine by typing in [U][R] and accepting the dialogs with yes or OK. Then select your machine from the list.

In some cases, stopping a file can cause a crash or an erroneous ini write. IF you do stop, reboot SB3 AND the operating system to eliminate a corupted .ini as a problem. If the spindle control is inoperative, unplug it. Work on one problem at a time.

You should be able to air test this, so zero above the table far enough so that the bit will not touch at max depth.

[jTr]

Gary,
Chris @ support just called and we walked through reinstalling SB3, drivers and firmware, as well as factory settings.
Air cutting suspected file - Chris ran fine @shopbot - still unable to get mine to run same part file without the slowdowns.
Chris thought excessive decimals in code (6 places) were causing a rounding issue, but edited down to 4 places on known problem lines (before and after as well) and still slowing...

Perhaps another cable or entirely different computer?

Thanks!
jeff

[ron_moorehead]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the information here. I have been fighting a problem that the software would not find the control box on startup each time. I went as far as reloading the computer back to factory setting with a reformate for the hard drive. I loaded the control software and reloaded my custom settings and the problem would not go away, I tried my computer that is working fine on my desktop and had the same problem, I tried my laptop and had the same problem. The software would not find the control box. So after reading this post I cleared the settings in the control software and did a factory setting load and everything started to work fine the software would find the control box just fine on each start up.

The other problem I found was I had the usb hub plugged into the back of my UPS for the computer and once I moved that to be plugged into the wall things started to work better. Thanks for the idea to try loading factory settings. Who would have figured.

[garyc]

Jeff...
Does the problem still exist when air cutting?
Is the spindle on? How about when off?
Dust collection on or off?
Have you tried it with the spindle control USB converter unplugged?
Have you done a speed test to see what your comm rate is?

One more thing to try:
Make a rectangle in PartWorks that is the same size and position as your problematic part. Toolpath it using the same parameters. Aircut and see if that file cuts full speed all the way. The DXF import from Sketchup could be funky.